Activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied has claimed the backlash to her proves she is a victim of ‘brown poppy syndrome’. That is, she was a successful woman of colour and racist Australia couldn’t bear to see her succeed.

In an interview with Teen Vogue she said much as she was grateful for the opportunities Australia gave her, she became the victim of systematic racism.

The piece she’s written is entitled, “I Tried To Fight Racism by Being a Model Minority – and Then It Backfired.” She says she isn’t interested in focusing on anyone who does not see her humanity anymore.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied on Q and A. Picture: ABCSource:Whimn

She writes, “It thought that if I were good enough, my example would make people see that their assumptions about Muslims and people of colour were wrong. Once they got to know me, they would change their behaviour and fix their biases, I thought. Unfortunately, the evens of the past few months have taught me otherwise.”

She adds, “As people of colour have systematically been treated as second-class citizens, they are considered ‘conditionally Australian’. The moment they step out of line, the country explodes with outrage.”